Apply for or renew a Blue Badge
If you have a non-visible disability
A non-visible (hidden) disability is a disability or health condition that is not immediately obvious. This can include:
- anxiety
- autism
- cognitive impairment, such as dementia, traumatic brain injury or a learning disability
- depression
- hearing loss
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- personality disorders
- restricted vision or a visual impairment
- schizophrenia
- sensory and processing difficulties
This is not a complete list. Other non-visible disabilities and health conditions may also be considered.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for a Blue Badge if you have an enduring and substantial disability that causes you to:
- be unable to walk
- experience considerable difficulty while walking, including psychological distress
- be at risk of serious harm to yourself or others when walking
For Blue Badge assessments, an enduring and substantial disability is one that is not expected to improve within the next 3 years to the extent that you would no longer meet the eligibility criteria.
If your condition affects your mobility
Some non-visible conditions may be more appropriately assessed under the mobility criteria, including:
- Parkinson's
- arthritis
- heart conditions
If you have both a physical disability and a non-visible disability, select both criteria when you apply. We will assess your application using the most relevant criteria.
Evidence required for non-visible disabilities
If you're applying under the non-visible disability criteria, provide evidence that helps us understand how your condition affects your ability to make a journey.
If your evidence is more than 2 pages long, upload it as one complete PDF or Word document. We cannot accept individual pages or screenshots taken from a longer document.
Examples of supporting evidence include:
- your most recent Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- risk assessments completed by a school, college, care provider or support worker
- letters from a healthcare professional confirming a diagnosis
- evidence showing how your condition has changed or progressed over time
- details of ongoing treatment, appointments or clinic attendance
- letters from consultants or other medical specialists
- care plans from social care services
- letters from other professionals involved in your care or support
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letters or award summaries
- evidence of a Council Tax discount for severe mental impairment
- evidence of any other benefits you receive
Providing relevant and up-to-date evidence can help us assess your application more quickly.
How we assess a non-visible disability application
Blue Badge eligibility for people with non-visible disabilities is not based on diagnosis alone.
We assess:
- the severity of your condition
- how your condition affects your ability to walk and complete journeys on a regular basis